29 August 2008 16:44
I loan a very fizzy chestnut mare who hasn’t had much schooling. She tanks off in trot when I walk her in the school and either ignores my aids or takes them as a signal to speed up! What can I feed her to keep her calm and make her more responsive?
Answer
By Your Horse
Nutritionist Lizzie Drury replies:
I think there are a number of factors here. Your mare may feel unsettled with her change of home and rider. You are trying to educate her, something she is not used to, and she has an excitable temperament.
A feeding regime can help to make managing an excitable temperament easier. Good quality forage should form the basis ofyour mare’s diet. This will keep her guts healthy and help maintain her body condition, so there is less need to give her a lot of concentrated feed.
To help manage an excitable temperament, give feeds that release energy slowly, and those containing fibre and oil fit the bill. Slow-release energy feeds include all forages such as hay, sugar beet, soya hulls, etc.
Providing your mare is in good condition, there is no reason why she shouldn’t be maintained on grass alone during summer – though she will require a vitamin and mineral supplement. Try a broad-spectrum supplement mixed into a handful of chaff every day. You should seek advice from a qualified instructor regarding your mare’s schooling problems.